Editor,
Re: City of Revelstoke unveils ‘tourist home’ plan permitting vacation rentals, News, April 17
The city has presented a plan which would see very specific areas of the city designated as vacation homes rentals. This newspaper had as the question of the week as to whether you were in favour of this or not. Of those who participated, 77 per cent said no.
In normal circumstances that would be a red flag to the city against proceeding without major changes if indeed at all – but will it? I think the city has backed itself into a corner by not taking action over the past several years against the illegally operated vacation rentals. So now they have taken a red pen and highlighted specific areas, streets and roads to be vacation rentals. How they have decided where to apply this ink seems to be quite random. There are some streets for example on Airport Way that have one house designated on the main road one or two houses designated on connecting street. There is one street where the whole street on both sides has been designated and that is the only street so designated in all of Arrow Heights.
Have you read the bylaw that covers this? It is written in favour of the owner. You as a neighbour will have no say or recourse if someone decides to open up a vacation rental home, no way to protest if behaviour is unacceptable, noisy or other. I know that the owners are generally very careful to ensure that their guests act appropriately but there are always the exceptions. Is there any guarantee that this bylaw will stop illegal rentals and what happens to all those that are already running out there?
I trust that city council will take a good second look at this plan which is opposed by 77 per cent of the sample vote. Everyone who reads this, act before it is too late!
Moira Jaatteenmaki,
Revelstoke